Hope Mills, N.C. — People in Hope Mills are divided over whether to allow Walmart to open a grocery store in town.

The Zoning Board met Monday afternoon to hear from the public on a possible rezoning of a site at the intersection of Legion and Elk roads near South View schools. A decision isn't expected for several weeks.

Opponents said they are concerned about traffic congestion, crime and property values, while supporters say a 41,000-square-foot Walmart Neighborhood Store would create jobs and bring the town additional tax revenue.

"It's going to be a really well-stocked and well-serviceable grocery store with a gas component and about 12,000 square feet of retail space for merchants to partner up in the shopping center with Walmart," said Macon Thomason, a real estate agent in Hope Mills.

"We're trying to get our lake back. We want things to look good. I just don't feel like, with the schools there, the congestion it would cause and ... there's a lot of people against it," resident Mike Waring said.

Kristin ByrneJul 29, 2014

The two Walmart markets (which are NOT the same as the Walmart superstore) that have gone up within miles of my house haven't put any stores out of business. One is right across the street from a Food Lion and the other is across the street from a Harris Teeter.

When the stores originally wanted to go in, I was adamantly against it because I despise Walmart. The Neighborhood Markets are much, much different, and, dare I say it, a convenience for when I want to shop. The prices are lower, the stores are well stocked, and they do have a decent variety. Now, I don't get meat and produce there, but I will get pretty much anything else. I also still shop at Food Lion and HT.

btneastJul 29, 2014

If they think for one skinny minute that the local stores will stay viable after wallyworld arrives they are sorely mistaken If the local stores are poorly run, then they may indeed go out of business......I know of many locations that have had Walmarts for years and many of the local businesses that carry similar products are still open and doing well. Those that fail are generally poorly run. With the proliferation of the internet and online shopping like Amazon , lower, more competitive pricing is the order of the day. Business owners get complacent and lazy and don't run as lean a ship as they should, so when lower prices arrive, they can't survive.

HANS FOR PRESIDENT!!!!! JKJul 29, 2014

@gmuny33, How can you stick up for the "other element" in SE Raleigh then talk smack about it here? The same element you speak of here is what drove Kroger out of SE Raleigh. Make up your mind

50s ChildJul 29, 2014

If I'm in walmart anyway and need a loaf of bread, I'll buy it there. But after the scares with the chinese chicken and dog food, I'm not buying any meat there unless it's brand name whereas at a grocery chain, I'll buy the "house" brand. There goes any savings I might have realized. The produce? A joke. It's usually "adequate" at best, rotten at worst. Then there's the standing in line.

That said, I no longer shop at local grocery stores either, but that's because of the rudeness of their staff, not their prices or offerings. Instead I drive to the nearest city (an hour away), shop for a month instead of a week, and make an outing of it. It's amazing how cashier attitudes improve when there are competitors nearby. Yesterday there was a story about bringing jobs to rural areas and someone pointed out that the workforce is uneducated and undesirable. I know nothing about Hope Mills, but if a store fails, it might not be wally's fault entirely.

James ScandrickJul 29, 2014

Why not just keep the Food Lion that is there on Legion Rd, a Wal-Mart is not needed. It will close local stores and drive down the value of property, and they many time bring another element that doesn't represent such a long-time upstanding area. Put the money in the Lake, that's what Hope Mills needs more.

Thomas FenskeJul 29, 2014

Well-stocked means with what WalMart wants to sell ... our local WM is generally my last choice for groceries especially if I am looking for specific products. Other stores have better sales and lately WM has been raising prices.

HANS FOR PRESIDENT!!!!! JKJul 29, 2014

Same thing going on in Swansboro, NC. I believe WM is threatening a lawsuit if they don't allow them to build there. One that would strain an already weak economy

Forthe NewssiteJul 29, 2014

I've been involved with several communities where at first there was not a walmart but one got built. Shortly after that MANY local businesses went OUT OF BUSINESS! Lower prices are NOT the be all end all.....Sure hope Hope Mills has good sense.

Forthe NewssiteJul 29, 2014

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WalMart also brings better prices.

— Posted by PowderedToastMan

At the EXPENSE of long time local businesses....keep drinking your koolaid.

PowderedToastManJul 29, 2014

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Just say NO to corporate greed!

— Posted by A cold, hard dose of Hans

Better to have a Walmart grocery with lower prices than those other grocery stores like Kroger, Lowes, Whole Foods, and H-T that overcharge